On the 10^th of March, the Muslim world marked the first day of Ramadan. Ramadan is the most important month in Islam which is observed with fasting, daily communal prayers, and recitation of the Quran, amongst other practices. Nearly every year in Palestine the month of Ramadan is marked with violence, provocation, and the obstruction of the freedom of worship by the State of Isarel against the Palestinian Muslim population. 

● Holy God, we pray that all Palestinian Muslims will be able to practice their spirituality this Ramadan without restrictions and violence. We remember that our oppressors enforce rules not to protect, but to restrict. Lord, as millions fast this Ramadan let them remember the people in Gaza who are starving, and as they come together in community to break their fasts, may they be reminded of the collective strength communities possess to challenge injustices.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer 

Friends of Sabeel France and Christians in the Mediterranean Area issued a letter to the Churches of France and their leaders on February the 21st. This letter calls the Churches of France and their leaders to work for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the provision of essential humanitarian aid into Gaza, an end to all violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the implementation of the measures proclaimed by the International Court of Justice to prevent the act of genocide in Gaza, amongst other requests. 

● Loving God, we thank you for the work the Friends of Sabeel France and Christians in the Mediterranean Area are doing. We pray that their letter spreads across all of France so that more will work for justice. Lord, help the Churches in France rise up to this call and serve as a prophetic voice so that they may be salt and light in the world.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer  

On the 20th of February, Sabeel held a Women’s Bible study as a part of its larger program of Bible Study Groups. This meeting is intended to help Christians use the Bible as a tool to relate faith with their daily life, reflecting a core component in Palestinian Liberation Theology. 

● Word Incarnate, the scriptures are a holy witness to your nature of love and activity in history. Help the Sabeel Bible study program collectively uncover the revelation of your love and the meaning it has for all Palestinians today. Help us, cultivate a contextual theology of love and liberation.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer   

Last month, members of U.S. Congress received more than 500 olivewood hearts made and blessed in Bethlehem from the United Church of Christ. Each wooden heart represents one beating heart of the nearly 12,000 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since October 7th. The hearts were accompanied with a letter urging Congress to “raise your voice for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land. True peace can only be achieved through the pursuit of justice for all parties involved.” 

● Prince of Peace, it has been over 150 days with no ceasefire. We come before you bewildered that the Western world has not exercised their power to stop the loss of so many lives, loss which will damage generations to come. Lord, bring an immediate ceasefire and give us courage and wisdom to pursue a just peace in our land.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer    

The 1st of March was the World Day of Prayer. This year, prayers were written and led by Palestinian Christian women. Our sisters, mothers, daughters, and grandmothers reflected collectively on Ephesians 4:1-6 from the context of their suffering as Palestinian Christian women, which reads, “I beg you, bear with one another in love”.

● God of Mary, Martha, and Hannah, we are grateful for the leadership and resistance of Palestinian women, a tradition that spans across centuries. We pray for all Palestinian women who are uniquely oppressed because of their ethnicity and gender. We pray especially for the women in Gaza who are victims of colonialism including sexual violence.   

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer 

Last week, the Israeli finance minister announced the approval of new illegal settlements in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem, and said work would continue to authorize further settlements. This is part of a larger plan to Judaize Jerusalem.

● Holy God, we cry like you did over the hatred, corruption, and disgrace in our land. We remember the words of the Psalmist, which encouraged us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). Help us bring peace to Jerusalem and all around the world by liberating it from the sins of colonialism, supremacy, and corruption.Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer      

In recent weeks, several Palestinians in Gaza have died from starvation, most of them are kids and babies. Furthermore, humanitarian aid has been systemically denied entry into Gaza and aid convoys are coming under Israeli fire. On the 29^th of February, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians waiting for food aid southwest of Gaza City, which resulted in the killing of over 120 Palestinians and wounded over 760 people. This massacre is known as the “Flour Massacre.”

● Lord Christ, you tell us that you are the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35). We come before you shocked, disgusted, and lost. We plead that you provide the people of Gaza their daily bread while so many are starving. Lord, intervene and stop these atrocities which kill people even as they wait for aid. Provide aid to our oppressors who are sick spiritually, morally, and politically.  

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer 

In the last two weeks, a large police force descended on the home of Fakhri Abu Diab, one of the most prominent social activists and neighborhood leaders in Silwan. Masked officers forcibly moved Abu Diab, his wife and son, and several journalists away from the house. Shortly afterward, a municipal bulldozer demolished the house. These house demolitions are done to make room for a religious Zionist theme park in Silwan. 

Everlasting God, as we witness violence justified in your name, we remember the words of Amos, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me” (Amos 5:21). Lord, we pray that justice may roll like a never-failing stream, restoring all demolished homes and holding all unjust agents accountable. Help us be better witnesses to the injustice taking place in Silwan.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer     

After four months of constant bombings, massacres, starvation, and numerous methods of collective punishment on 2.3 million people, Gaza is unrecognizable. The little aid that makes it into Gaza can barely meet the needs of the people. Children have died from starvation and dehydration, and many are sick due to the hellish conditions. Moreover, Israel has repeatedly opened fire at Gazans while they were trying to access aid. The death toll has reached 30,000 lives but is expected to rise with every minute that passes. 

 □ God of creation, we come before you lamenting like the Psalmist, “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy” (Psalm 130:1-2). Hear our cries and deliver us from modern day pharaohs. We plead, O Lord, for an immediate ceasefire and deliverance from the yoke of oppression.

Lord in your mercy… hear our cry        

Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the recommendations of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to limit the entry of Palestinians into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the upcoming month of Ramadan. This decision was made contrary to the Shin Bet recommendation, as it would fuel the existing tensions and anger by Palestinians. 

Holy God, we recognize that this decision was not made for security reasons, but to increase the violence towards Palestinians. Illuminate the deceiving ways which our oppressors use to justify their violence towards us on the pretext of security. Help us stop the Judaization of our land and advocate that all have the right for the freedom of worship.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer